The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Tue, 03/25/2008 11:20 AM
Jakarta Police have arrested 12 suspects thought to be involved in eight taxi robberies in the city during January and February, and have seized four taxis and a rented car.
The director of the general crimes unit at the Jakarta Police, Sr. Comr. Carlo Brix Tewu, said Monday some of the suspects have allegedly committed the robberies in small groups since last year.
He said the police arrested the first suspect, Agusman, in Cileungsi, West Java, on March 2. His interrogation led to the arrest of the 11 other suspects.
"The gang usually rented a taxi from a registered taxi driver, who wanted easy money, for about Rp 300,000 (US$33)," Carlo said Monday. He said each taxi was used for two or three robberies.
"One suspect would pose as a taxi driver while the other three or four accomplices would follow in a rented car," he said.
"The gang looked for female passengers who traveled alone and carried handbags. They usually committed the robberies in the afternoon and at night."
After they had a passenger, the driver of the taxi would drive for several minutes before pulling over, allowing his accomplices to jump into the backseat of the vehicle. As the taxi stopped, two men would get in from both sides.
The men would then threaten the victim with knives or screwdrivers, ordering her to hand over her cellular phones, ATM cards, money and any jewelry.
They would tell the passengers not to scream, threatening to kill or rape them if they did. After robbing the victim, they would leave her on the street.
Carlo said the 12 suspects could be put jailed for up to five years if convicted.
Two of the eight taxi robberies allegedly committed by the 12 suspects in January and February took place in Central Jakarta, two others occurred in West Jakarta and the rest in South Jakarta.
They picked up some of the passengers from shopping centers, including Ambassador Mall in South Jakarta and Plaza Senayan in Central Jakarta.
Police confiscated a white taxi, three blue taxis and a rented blue sedan from the suspects.
Carlo said the police would question the registered drivers who rented the taxis for the alleged robbers, and the taxi operators to find out whether they took part in the crimes.
Taxi robberies targeting women often happen in the city.
According to the Jakarta Police's head of the violent crimes division, Fadil Imran, police arrested 14 suspects in 28 taxi robberies in 2007.
Carlo called on passengers to be more careful when taking cabs.
"Passengers should ask for the registration number and the company's name when they take a taxi. Write down the driver's identity if necessary," he said.
If the driver's identity card is nowhere to be seen, get out of the taxi immediately, he said.
"It is safer to take taxis from credible companies and from their base. As for female passengers, they're better not to wear much jewelry to avoid crime." (trw)
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